How Can We Pursue Humility?

It's much easier to actively choose to humble ourselves before the Lord, than Him choosing to humble us. So how can we pursue humility?

1. Choose to serve:

I'm always challenged by the story of a well-known worship leader who, as a young man, was very keen to be involved in leading worship. He spoke to his pastor about his desire and this calling on his life and was offered a job as a cleaner for the church. He thought that he might as well take it, and assumed that it wouldn't be long before he was up front leading the church in worship.

As time went on and his main role continued to be cleaning the toilets and hoovering the carpets, he started to resent it. He couldn't understand why the pastor was overlooking his God-given talents and using him to do a job that anyone could perform. Then one day as he was cleaning he found that in his heart he was worshipping the Lord. It dawned on him that he could do what he was doing to the glory of God - it was worship. It was in that place that he learnt the true heart of worship. It was also in that place that he learnt that it wasn't about being up on a stage. It was about serving people.

If we want to keep humble we need to learn how to serve. How good are you at doing those jobs behind the scenes? Are you ever the one to wash up after everyone has left? Do you ever arrive early at church to help put out the chairs? Quite a challenge - but if we know what it means to serve then humility will naturally follow. As we involve ourselves in acts of service, behind the scene chores, then God will develop a heart of humility. More and more we will begin to see that itıs all about glorifying Jesus. If we do this by leading people in song, great. If we can do this by serving coffee after church, great. One isnıt better than the other.

2. Choose to prefer others:

Jealousy is an ugly trait. Itıs so sad to see people consumed by jealousy and resentment. It can be really hard to see our friends really thrive and prosper when it feels like we are not. By putting others first and by choosing to enjoy others' successes, we are choosing to humble ourselves.

Throughout the week of a worship conference in Canada, most of the worship was wonderfully led by a gal named Darlene. One afternoon I was down to lead with two other worship leaders from her team. We ran through a few songs when about ten minutes before the meeting Darlene turned up. The two guys went straight up to her and were saying, "Darlene you lead. It's so great when you lead it. We'll back you up." She replied saying, "No no, you guys lead. It will be so amazing if you lead it."

 





I stood back watching as they argued amongst themselves, each trying to persuade the other to lead. I loved it. What a model of a team preferring one another. There was such community and life in that place. There were no egos. It was a group of people passionate about drawing all the attention to God. Iıve no doubt that the humility of those involved has been formed and shaped by their desire to prefer one another.

If you often find yourself thinking  "I should be leading there. I'm more gifted than her. I write better songs than him," then choose to prefer others. Bless those that you struggle with. Talk highly of those that you feel envious of. It will lead to humility.

3. Choose to embrace people that will challenge you:

When things are going well it can be so easy to feed off the praises of other people. It becomes an unhealthy addiction. If we're not careful we even find ourselves focusing more on pleasing the crowd, than on pleasing Jesus.

I'm so grateful to those close friends and family around me who will tell me when I'm being an idiot. If they see an unhealthy attitude they will challenge it. If I'm getting too big for my boots, they will bring me down a peg or two. We need these people in our lives. Don't just surround yourself with people that will go on about how amazing you are. Find those who love you enough to point out areas of weakness as well. With these people around, it becomes very hard to act in an arrogant and selfish way.

Let every day be a day of humility; condescend to all the weaknesses and infirmities of your fellow-man, cover their frailties, love their excellences, encourage their virtues, relieve their wants, rejoice in their prosperities, be compassionate in their distress, receive their friendship, overlook their unkindness, forgive their malice, and be a servant of servants.

In Isaiah, the Lord says, "I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols." (Isa 42:8)  We serve and believe in a mighty God who deserves all the attention and praise. There is no room for us to shout out our own greatness. Our lives are but a breath compared to God's eternal ways. Letıs be a people that humble ourselves before a Holy God. Let's actively seek genuine humility so that God can be most glorified.  

 


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